USAID ASEAN Policy Implementation Activity FY2021 Q3 Quarterly Report

The project is guided by the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), the USAID/ASEAN Development Cooperation Framework (DCF), and the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. API will contribute to Development Objective 2 of the DCF, which seeks to increase ASEAN capacity for regional economic integration and sustainable economic growth. API focuses on two main objectives: identifying concrete needs and opportunities for supporting the implementation of targeted ASEAN policies at the Member State level, and providing concrete technical assistance to Member States to strengthen their implementation of targeted ASEAN policies. The project is supported by three components: Component 1, which involves identifying concrete needs and opportunities for supporting the implementation of targeted ASEAN policies; Component 2, which provides concrete technical assistance to Member States to strengthen their implementation of targeted ASEAN policies; and Component 3, which involves mission-driven windows of opportunity. During the reporting period from April to June 2021, API finalized the Business Process Analysis (BPA) report for the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) Management System. The BPA report enabled the development of the terms of reference (ToR) for the Technical Specifications for the ACDD Management System for the Bureau of Customs, Philippines. API also worked with national researchers from five ASEAN Member States to prepare the baseline research on digital data governance in the region. API made progress in its engagement with the ASEAN Secretariat, receiving several invitations to participate in senior officials' meetings, including the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN Single Window Steering Committee and the Stakeholders' Forum on the Implementation of the IAI Work Plan IV. ASEAN endorsed API as an ASEAN project, which the team hopes can be capitalized on to strengthen API's relationships with ASEAN Member States. API also started mapping capacity-building activities for National Single Window and Digital Data Governance by collecting information from research institutions in the region. The project made progress in supporting the translation of the ASEAN-wide Self Certification Guidebook into seven national languages, with two ASEan Member States approving the translation versions and the remaining five countries still reviewing the final version. API prepared background information on Laos in preparation for its engagement with the USAID bilateral mission under Component 3. The project aims to contribute to the achievement of the DCF objectives and work in collaboration with USAID/ASEAN's other activities, IGNITE, and PROSPECT to achieve common outcomes. The API project is a four-year program that aims to provide technical assistance at the national level of ASEAN Member States to accelerate the implementation of key ASEAN initiatives. The project will also provide lessons learned to inform the next phase of API. API will work in collaboration with USAID missions' country development cooperation strategy in the ASEAN region and contribute to Development Objective 2 of the DCF, which seeks to increase ASEAN capacity for regional economic integration and sustainable economic growth.